Sunday 8 November 2020

Happy Birthday to Me

Yesterday was my birthday! By yesterday I mean Saturday the 7th, but as I am typing this I am pretty sure it is still my birthday in parts of the US. I woke up today, the day after my birthday, to the news that Biden will be president. Thank goodness! A birthday on a Saturday is a special birthday, people can do things! Not that I am one for big gatherings. But then COVID happened. But now my state has not had any community transmitted cases for over 50 days! So... I could do something very small. I had planned to just go out to lunch with my friend Amy, but then with all the Dim Sim stuff I didn't want to not be with her on my birthday. So in the end Amy came over and brought lunch and I made cake and we had a really good chat. She is the first friend I have seen that wasn't work related in over six months. It felt wild to have someone over in the house! But very nice as well. Here's to slowly (and safely) re-entering the world... and by world I mean my specific small area of the world where COVID is (touch wood) pretty much under control for the moment.

But I know you are here for the food! I need to start on the night before my birthday, because leftovers from the night before became a very important morning of breakfast.

Pizza Margherita from Chloe's Italian Kitchen: Yes, pizza! This is a super easy and simple pizza to make. I used my go-to dough recipe from Vegan Pizza and Leggo's Pizza Sauce for the base. The dough is seasoned with garlic powder and salt before you put the sauce on, which was a nice touch. Thinly sliced tomato, fresh basil, and a cashew-based mozzarella sauce go on top. The sauce was super easy to make. This pizz was simple, fresh, and fast, but delightful. And it help up very well for breakfast the next morning.
Rating: :)

Pizza Margherita


Amy brought lunch with her from Cafe O'Mai, my favourite Vietnamese place in Brisbane. We had tofu banh mi, and tofu rice paper rolls. So fresh and delicious.

Banh Mi from Cafe O'Mai


Rice Paper Rolls from Cafe O'Mai


Chocolate Cherry Coffee Cake from Chloe's Italian Kitchen: I made a cake! I love chocolate and cherry, and I love the crumb on coffee cakes, so this was a great pick. It was easy to make, and I could assemble it the day before, pop it in the fridge, and then bake in the morning so I wasn't having to run around in the kitchen on my birthday morning. It was very yummy, but it needed more cherries!!
Rating: :)

Chocolate Cherry Coffee Cake


For dinner we got delivery, and I had a place in mind. I had seen Cheeky Poke Bar as a new addition for delivery, and a giant bowl of things seemed perfect. I got the Signature Tofu Bowl, which had tofu, quinoa, spring onions, broccoli, kale, cabbage, beetroot, pickled ginger, miso tahini, fried shallots, avocado, nori, and sesame. I got them to leave off the togarashi, as that can be quite spicy and I have some at home so I can control the amount. I also added enoki mushrooms. This was delicious, just what I wanted! They also have a signature mushroom bowl that is vegan, as well as the option to create your own bowls, so I will definitely be ordering from them again.

Signature Tofu Bowl from Cheeky Poke


As for non-food things, the evening just happened to co-incide with a Kylie Minogue online streaming event for her new album release. I love Kylie, I have since I was little, and I love her still. So I bought a ticket and watched a wonderful performance on my TV! While eating a poke bowl! With my cat! What a great way to pass the evening. With my ticket I also get a copy of her new CD, so I am looking forward to that arriving because there were some great songs I look forward to singing along to.

And presents! I am getting a new phone soon, so a contribution to that is my main present. But I also got two books - a new cookbook and a novel I am super excited to read because the protagonist is ace and aro, just like me! I also got a mysterious box of goodies from the Cruelty Free Shop, which was from my sweet friend Jojo. I am especially excited to try the chai mix. It is a cool day here, so I think a mug of that with a slice of leftover cake is on the agenda for this afternoon.

Birthday Presents


Birthday Presents


Cute Kitty Photo of the Post

Birthday Selfie


Birthday selfie with my girl.

6 comments:

  1. Happy birthday! I'm glad you were able to have a nice celebration! And such a beautiful selfie of you and Dim Sim! <3

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    1. Thank you! I love the selfie, it makes me laugh.

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  2. The pizza and banh mi look so great! Happy birthday! What a nice thing to wake up to, even if it wasn't your president. I don't think Americans have ever reacted to an election with so much joy.

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    1. I think there was a lot of joy across the world!

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  3. Happy Belated Birthday!! It sounds like a wonderful day! I'm so happy you got to have time with a good friend, Dim Sim and banh mi?? Sounds like the best birthday ever!!!
    I miss banh mi sandwiches! I would never even attempt to try a gluten free version!

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    1. It was a great way to spend the day.
      Unfortunately I think a GF vietnamese roll would not really work, but are many banh mi-inspired things you can make. But I know, not quite the same.

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